Wolf Appliance Range Recall

Wolf Appliance, Inc. is recalling 24,000 gas ranges due to delayed ignition in the 18″ oven that can cause flames to shoot towards consumers when the oven door is opened.

These gas ranges were sold under the Wolf brand name. The Wolf logo can be located on the front of the large oven door. These 48-inch, with model numbers: P48, PS48 and R48 were sold from January 1998 through June 2008.

Consumers are advised to stop using the 18″ oven and contact the manufacturer to schedule a free, in-home repair. Reports indicate only the 18″ oven is affected and the top burners and large oven may be used.

For more information can contact Wolf Appliance toll-free at (866) 643-6408 between 8:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. CT Monday through Friday or visit the firm’s Web site at www.wolfappliance.com.

September 2, 2008

Hitachi Refrigerator

Hitachi makes some pretty interesting refrigerators.

Their R-X6000 Model claims to have the world’s first vacuum compartments and power assisted drawers. It also has a quick freeze drawer, mold-proof door gasket, nano titanium filter, variable size ice maker with automatic cleaning and an automatic door closer.

In their latest model, the R-Y6000, Hitachi unveils new technology to spray your food with Antioxidant Vitamins to help preserve freshness and combat odors. Apparently Vitamin C helps meat keep it’s color longer and also slows down nutrient loss in vegetables and fish.

I might trust it to extend the life of fruit and vegetables but I personally wouldn’t take any chances with meat.

August 29, 2008

Minimalist Sinks

Axolute, an Italian company dedicated to creating innovative bathroom products, has created quite a buzz for itself with the showing of their patented Horizontal Integrated Siphon (HIS) at Salone de Mobile and FuoriSalone.

A tiny slot under the front rim of the sink allows water to drain (hoizontally) under the basin into a pipe in the wall.

These incredible sinks come in Stainless Steel, enameled steel or colored Corian versions.

Since no unsightly drains are below these sinks they are also ideal for bathrooms required to meet ADA guidelines.

August 17, 2008

Simpler Color Trends

The economic slowdown and a push to reconnect with nature will result in simpler design styles and color choices heading into 2009.

Architecture and design emerging next year will be taking cues from four concepts: “raw,” “urban silence,” “simplexity” and “private identity,” says a color and design specialist with Benjamin Moore Paints.

“We are going to see more of a ‘make do with what you have’ attitude and paring down austerity in design,”

Raw– This palette is derived from unfinished wood, cinder blocks and other “make-do” materials and includes shades of white, sand and gray. The raw palette will layer white on white, with textures and shapes to add visual interest. Gray and monotones will be embraced with tonal shifts ranging from beiges to near-black.

Urban Silence– This group of colors reflects the changing delineation between life in the city and life outside the city. As more urban buildings incorporate rooftop gardens and shipping containers are converted into living spaces, the city becomes a softer, more livable place. These changes are reflected in the palette by mixing the gray tones of urban living with vibrant, organic colors like green, rust and terra cotta.

Simplexity– The best way to think of “simplexity” design is repetitive patterns clustered into simple formats. The repetitive pattern brings order to chaos. Simplexity colors are very complex, they have a lot of depth to them, but they’re easy to use.An example is a color that looks black, but it’s really purple. It’s almost black but it has an undercurrent of blue and red running underneath it and the way that the light hits it, you start seeing the nuances of how those colors flip underneath it.

Private Identity – deals with how we express our individuality and differentiates between the individual and the world. Colors will include organic brights teamed with pales to create unusual pairings. Metallics will be warm and cool, while surfaces, especially blacks and vinyl, will have slick, wet looks. Denim and brass will be key features in this forward-thinking trend.